In surveying several Christian women, I found that many of us are lacking in our daily devotions with God. This personal daily time is foundational to our lives! Prayer and reading God's Word are what begin to define our spiritual condition.

These women were lacking in prayer. They said it was lack of time and lack of organization. I have 2 possible solutions for this: 1) You make the time for what is important to you. 2) I share in my Prayer Journal System video a great way to organize prayer lists yet still work in the flexibility of varying amounts of time to pray.These women were spending their daily devotions with their favorite author rather than directly with God. They said it was lack of direction in what to read in the Bible as well as not knowing how to apply God's Word. So they turn to devotional books as the answer. There is a better way! A much better way!

In this video I will show you how to decide what to read in God's Word and how you can listen for the message God has for you without the use of a devotional book.

Daily Journal:

Date:Passage:Theme:Verse:Impression:

Questions to Ask:

Example:

1) Are there any commands or actions to take?2) Any sin to put off?3) Promises to claim?4) Warnings to be heeded?5) Things to be thankful for?6) Truths to be reminded of?7) Does this passage raise any questions that I seek to have answered?

This video gives some easy to remember, simple to do tests of modesty for clothing. Use them for both yourself and your children!The issue of modesty is certainly not a new topic. Unfortunately, though, modesty is too often addressed as a female's issue and concern. I believe that modesty is required of both men and women. The simple modesty tests that are described in this video apply to both.

Outline of the 6 Tests:1) Raise your Hands - Raise both hands high above your head to check for length of shirts and dresses.2) Sit Down - To check the length and fit of shorts, dresses, and skirts, sit in a chair in various positions. For shorts, you will also want to sit on the floor in various positions.3) Bend Over - In a standing position, bend over at the waist to check for gaps where pants/skirts meet the shirt. This will also check dress length in the back.4) Rubber Band Test - Tug on your shirt in various places. If it snaps back at you, your shirt may be too tight. This applies to pants and skirts, as well.5) Lean Over - Lean over to check if necklines are too large causing the "contents" underneath to be revealed. Also check the arm openings of sleeveless shirts for any gaps.6) Full Length Mirror Test - Look the entire outfit over for one last check of anything that didn't get discovered in the above tests. Such as: Are any undergarments exposed?

Communion is a wonderful privilege and great opportunity to remind your children of the gospel.Whether or not they partake in Communion, they can begin the discipline of remembering what Christ did on their behalf.

First, remind your child of your expectations for him during Communion.

In the back of Sermon Notes for Kids there is a Communion guide. This is not for note taking purposes but rather to provide direction for your child's thoughts during Communion. It contains 3 sections:

The passages listed are long. It might be helpful to shorten the reading by underlining in your child's Bible the specific verses you want him to read.2) Confession - A verse is provided that your child can pray to help keep his heart in right standing with God.

3) Praise - Suggested chapters of the Psalms for praise and worship.Sermon Notes for Kids also provides a page for you to list your own thought prompts or Scripture references for your child.

Another great option is to model prayer by pulling your child close and whispering a prayer for and with your child.

Communion is an awesome privilege! Use it to point your child to the grace and mercy of Christ that each of us needs, but none deserve. Don't miss this opportunity!

Yesterday's sermon was on Matthew 5:21-26, "The Heart of Anger."One of my daughters started the service with a heart of anger. She couldn't find her Bible and was angry at her brother because she felt he was responsible for it in some way. She found it under the pew a few minutes later but as the sermon began, she sat there empty handed (no Bible or Sermon Notes) and heavy hearted (weighted down with anger).Part way into the sermon, my husband noticed and told her to open her Bible and begin taking notes. She did, though she wasn't happy about it at first.

Later that afternoon, she showed me her notes and told me that God had convicted her during the sermon and repentance took place in her heart.

Can the Holy Spirit speak to a child's heart through a sermon? Absolutely!Can the Holy Spirit speak to a child's heart through a sermon if he is not taking notes? Absolutely!Can a child take notes and still have a closed heart? Absolutely!

However, I believe most kids will benefit greatly from taking sermon notes. Children need to be taught active listening. Children will find it easier to succumb to day dreaming than to active listening to a sermon preached primarily to adults.

A sermon ought to be preached to an adult audience. It should not be brought down to the level of a child.However, a sermon is not above the ability of the Holy Spirit to use that sermon to touch the heart of a child. I believe that when the Word of God is preached, something supernatural takes place.

Why and How?

Hebrews 4:12

For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow,and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

God's Word is living and active! It's supernatural!

There have been times that I have allowed my children to refrain from taking notes. But it has been proved over and again that when they do, the doors to their heart of belief and mind of understanding are open that much more.

As in the case with my daughter, certainly the Holy Spirit could have touched her heart without her taking notes. But the pull of the sinful nature is strong. Anger had taken a grip on her heart and closed its door.

I can't control my daughter's heart, but by having her take notes, we were helping place her in a better position to be reached. We helped move her mind from dwelling on what made her angry to a place of active listening of the sermon. Her heart was then in a better position to hear and respond to the Holy Spirit.

Don't forget that children in the pew is about more than just the sermon. It's also about having them witness the tone of worship. The reverence. The awe. The joy. The participation.

Sermon Notes for Kids is a great tool for helping your children draw from the sermon the pieces they can understand. The variety of note taking methods appeals to a wide range of learning styles and abilities.Jill Connelly“Growing in Truth one Step at a Time”

I've had several inquiries on how to handle preschoolers in the pew. This can be a challenge indeed! I have several ideas that can help. You probably won't like my first tip, but it's true and it works!

1) Wait. Yep. Just wait. They won't stay preschoolers forever. They will slowly mature and their attention span increase. They will grow up before you know it!2) Preschoolers certainly aren't too young to pick up on the tone of the service.The respect. The joy of worship. These are settling on the heart of your young one even through the wiggles and lack of attention. (Don't underestimate this!)

3) Consider the learning (listening) style or "best behavior" of your child. For instance, "best behavior" for my son was to have something in his hand that he could manipulate. A small wad of silly putty or a small car were each something he would quietly play with for long periods of time. In fact, I've learned that my son listens far more attentively in all sorts of situations if his hands are kept busy. One of my daughters could sit and doodle or color quietly for long periods of time. I've even dished out non-messy, quiet snacks (like Cheerios). Just be sure to not leave leftovers for others to clean up. Teach your children to be respectful of both the property and the cleaning crew. I realize that some of these things could be a nightmare for some kids. The silly putty would be in the senior lady's hair in front of you, the Matchbox car would be swerving in and out of all the Sunday shoes down the row, or a Cheerio flicking contest would be in full swing. Find what will work for your child.

I'm not talking a wagon load of toys. I'm meaning to allow your really young one to do something that allows him to easily sit quietly for the longest amount of time. Find something that works for your child. And then, let him fall asleep if he desires! If you just can't find anything that will work for your preschooler, then tip #4 will need to become your bigger focus.4) Training a preschooler in the pew really begins at home. Do you have family devotions? This is the perfect time to begin requiring your little ones to sit quietly in their space and do their best to listen and participate.

If not, does your child eat meals at the table? Of course! So this takes care of 2 things in 1 (table etiquette and training for the pew). Even for a preschooler, meal time is not play time. It's time to enjoy the company of the family but not time to be crazy loud or wiggly up and down. Teaching and expecting appropriate table manners and to remain respectful and in his seat, is great training for a preschooler in the pew. When my children were preschoolers, I would require them to have what I called "blanket time." I would set out a special blanket, one for each child, in the middle of the family room along with a basket containing board books. I would set the timer for 5-15 minutes (depending on their age and ability). They were required to stay anywhere on the blanket, to sit up, and no talking. They were free to either look through the books or do nothing.

The purpose was to begin teaching them boundaries and self-control. I didn't realize it at the time but I believe this daily practice did much to prepare them for the pew (and other times that they were required to sit still and quietly).Some important last thoughts:

I know that some of you will disagree with allowing your child any type of manipulative or find it difficult to put up with the wiggles. But hear me out and don't forget that I'm referring here to preschoolers only (or older children with special needs). At the preschool age, I think the most important reason for being in the service next to mom and/or dad is to begin to absorb the tone of respect and joy of worship. I think it is a rare preschooler that will pick up on those attitudes if he is forced to sit up, sit straight, sit back, sit still, stay awake! They are, after all, preschoolers. Just yesterday they were babies! So keep your expectations realistic. It will keep you from becoming frustrated and your child from becoming miserable and dreading church. Before you know it, your child will be learning to read and write and can begin to use Sermon Notes for Kids! And for a regular does of tips on training our children to worship, follow us on Facebook!

Countless times I have heard people say, “I could never handle _____.”

I’ve heard the blank filled in with things such as:I could never handle... the death of a spouse or child a special needs child a terminal illness being alone losing everything divorce public humiliation

The list could go on and on. I even have my own list to fill in the blank of things I know I could never handle.

I usually hear this statement made after hearing of someone else suffering that very thing. For in instance, a conversation surrounds the topic of someone who just lost a child. Someone pipes in that they could never handle losing a child. I totally understand that response. But when I hear it, I think, “So, God allowed that person to lose their child because he knew they could handle it? Likewise, the sufferings God allows in my life are because I can handle them when few others could?” That kind of talk and thinking will cause you and others to falter in faith.

Let us pause and consider a more helpful (and truthful!) response.

The truth is that all of us are incapable of handling suffering, especially when it is deep or prolonged. Hardship and suffering don’t come to those who can handle it. This truth is found all throughout Scripture but let me highlight one passage that has been pressed on my heart:

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death.

But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers.

2 Corinthians 1:8-11

God allows into our lives certain hardships and sufferings that we are incapable of handling. Why? So that we will rely on Him who is capable. He can raise the dead! He is capable! And we - we are incapable without Him.

We become incapable if we forget our hope. The hope that He will deliver us, if not in this life then in eternal life to come. (2 Cor. 1:8-11)

We become incapable if we fix our eyes on what is seen and temporary rather than what is unseen and eternal. (2 Cor. 4:16-18).

We become incapable if we rely only on our own power (2 Cor. 4:7-12; 12:9-10 and Phil. 4:12-13).

Yes, I could never handle ___. But neither can the person who is currently suffering that very thing.

I am not a theologian but from what I read in the Scriptures, to say, “I could never handle ___,” is an incomplete sentence, an incomplete truth.

I know we as Christians don’t intend harm when saying such statements. But half truth clichés are not encouraging. As Christians, let us rewrite that common phrase by reminding ourselves and our hearers of our true source of strength and hope when faced with a crisis.

Have you ever stopped to listen and take note of the conversation taking place in your car as you leave the church parking lot?I have. I was embarrassed and convicted at what I heard coming out of my mouth! My husband and I had a string of criticisms spilling from our mouths. It only took seconds before the kids were following suit, voicing all their irritations and complaints about their, friends, temperature of the building, class topic, etc.What I realized is that our car conversation was not reflecting a heart of worship but a heart of criticism.

Will you join me in taking special care with our car conversations as we leave the church parking lot this Sunday (and every Sunday)?

Training children to worshipis not limited to the pew; Rather it should infuseeverything we do!

Illustrating a sermon is a great way to take notes! It can be both fun and challenging! You will have to think creatively, especially if the sermon is not based on a narrative text of Scripture.

Give it a try sometime. Your kids will love seeing your drawing as it progresses throughout the sermon. It's not uncommon for us to be passing artwork back and forth down the pew. Don't worry - it's not distracting. In fact, I think it gets the kids all the more engaged in listening and understanding the sermon.

Below is a sample of illustrating the sermon that my 2 of my kids did this past Sunday. The sermon was on Hannah. Since it was a narrative, it made it a very easy one to illustrate. First, is my 7 year old daughter's illustration. I love that she labeled Hannah as #1 and Peninnah as #2! I also like her drawing on the left where Peninnah is saying unkind things to Hannah, who is crying.

Below, is my 10 year old daughter's illustration. She finished by writing a title for the sermon at the top.

I normally take notes but this time I simply wrote questions to ask the kids while on the drive home. My kids range from 7 up to age 12. Below are my questions (answers in red): 1) Why was Hannah barren? It was not a punishment from sin but rather so God could display His glory. 2) What person made it more difficult for Hannah to deal with having no children? Peninnah, Elkanah's other wife.

3) What did Peninnah use to hurt Hannah? Her words. 4) What are your 2 choices when you experience a difficult time? Turn to God or turn away from God. 5) When Hannah prayed, what did she call herself? a servant

6) What part of Hannah's story impressed you most?

7) What's something hard that you might face and how could you plan to respond? Be creative in helping your children take notes in church. Taking notes isn't for everyone but I believe it can do wonders for children in helping them engage in the preaching of God's Word.

I was in the local Family Christian Bookstore recently and found that they had eliminated a huge portion of their Bible section due to lack of sales.

I believe this is evidence of the dangers of the digital age. Yes, it is convenient to have a Bible on your mobile device, but it doesn't come without a cost. (I share this post already realizing I am in the minority on these thoughts and concerns.)

On the "DIGITAL" side:1) The Bible is always accessible, but it is always nestled among the other sight and sound distractions of life which are now just a finger touch away.2) It provides a myriad of resources, versions, and search tools within a few quick finger strokes.3) The Scriptures can now get into the hands of more people and languages at a faster rate than ever before dreamed.4) But consider how easy it could be for Satan to wipe out the digital Bible in a simple split second.5) In the future, you will no longer see anyone carrying a Bible into church. 6) No longer will people be seen reading the Scriptures in a quiet nook of the coffee shop. 7) No longer will the leather-bound Holy Bible be perched on your coffee table quietly reminding you to spend time with God.

On the "PRINT" side:1) It will get increasingly more and more difficult to find a printed Bible. Family Bookstore is proof of this already. 2) When I read from the printed Word of God, it is not unusual for me to become sidetracked by other verses I see as I am making my way to my target book, chapter, and verse. These are exciting discoveries I miss when using a digital copy.3) It is also much easier to glance at the context of a verse or passage when reading from a printed copy versus a digital. 4) If I am reading it in a public setting, it opens the door to opportunities to speak Jesus or encourage other believers. Staring at a phone like everyone else negates this possibility, and, in fact, makes me unapproachable.

I am by no means anti-digital. I am excited about the advancement of the Gospel that the digital decades have ushered in. But I worry about the hidden cost that is yet to be realized.In this digital age, God's Word may be more accessible but it will become more easily forgotten.